Agenda Date: 6/18/14
Agenda Item: IVD
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Board of Public Utilities
44 South Clinton Avenue, 9th Floor
Post Office Box 350
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0350
www.nj.gov/bpu/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
IN THE MATTER OF THE VERIFIED JOINT PETITION
OF LIGHT TOWER FIBER LONG ISLAND LLC,
SIDERA NETWORKS, LLC, LEXENT METRO
CONNECT, LLC, NEON CONNECT, INC., AND NEW
JERSEY DATANET, LLC FOR APPROVAL OF
CERTAIN PRO FORMA INTRA-COMPANY CHANGES
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ORDER
DOCKET NO. TM14040343
Parties of Record:
William K. Mosca, Jr., Esq., Bevan, Mosca, Giuditta & Zarillo, P.C., on behalf of Petitioners
Stefanie A. Brand, Esq., Director, New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel
BY THE BOARD:
On April 10, 2014, Light Tower Fiber Long Island LLC (f/kla KeySpan Communications Corp.)
("LTF-LI"), Sidera Networks, LLC ("Sidera"), Lexent Metro Connect, LLC ("LMC"), NEON
Connect, Inc. ("NEON"), and New Jersey DataNet, LLC ("NJ-DataNet") (collectively, the
"Petitioners") filed a verified joint petition e Petition") with the Board of Public Utilities ("Board")
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:2-51 and the Board Regulations, requesting approval for certain pro
forma intra-company changes as a result of streamlining efforts by their holding company. On
May 14, 2014 Petitioners filed an Amendment to the Petition to clarify an aspect of the relief
sought in this matter. Following the consummation of proposed pro forma intra-company
changes ("Pro Forma Transactions"), customers will continue to receive services at the same
terms, rates and conditions under which they currently receive in the State.
BACKGROUND
Petitioners are all indirect subsidiaries of LTS Group Holdings, LLC ("Holdings" and together
with its subsidiaries "Lightower"). Holdings is a Delaware limited liability company with principal
offices located in Boxborough, Massachusetts. Under the trade name Lightower Fiber
Networks, Holdings, through its operating subsidiaries including the Petitioners, provides
Ethernet, SONET, wavelengths, private network services, Internet access, dark fiber and
collocation services to carrier, government and enterprise customers. Petitioners and their
affiliates operate over 6,600 fiber route miles that serve over 3,500 on-net buildings with
comprehensive transport and alternative access solutions. Their geographic footprint extends
from Boston and Southern New Hampshire to eastern New York State, northern New Jersey,
Long Island, New York City, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
In the State of New Jersey, LTF-LI is authorized to provide facilities-based local and long
distance services. See Order, 1/M/0 the Petition of Keyspan Communications Corporation for
Authority to Provide Local Exchange and lnterexchange Telecommunications Services in the
State of New Jersey, Docket No.TE04020089, dated September 14, 2004. NJ DataNet is
authorized to provide facilities-based and resold local exchange and interexchange services
pursuant to authority granted by Order of the Board dated February 1, 2005. See Order, 1/M/0
the Petition of New Jersey DataNet Telecom, LLC for Authority to Provide Facilities-Based and
Resold Local Exchange and lnterexchange Telecommunications Services Throughout the State
of New Jersey, Docket No. TE04111435. LMC is authorized to provide local exchange and
interexchange telecommunications services pursuant to Order dated November 10, 2009. See
Order, 1/M/0 the Petition of Lexent Metro Connect LLC for Approval to Provide Local Exchange
and lnterexchange Telecommunications Services Throughout the State of New Jersey, Docket
No. TE09070564. Sidera is authorized to provide local exchange and interexchange services.
Authority was originally granted to Con Edison Communications, LLC, which changed its name
to RCN New York Communications, LLC, which subsequently changed its name to Sidera. See
Order, 1/M/0 the Petition for an Order Authorizing Consolidated Edison Communications, Inc. to
Provide Local Exchange and lnterexchange Telecommunications Services Throughout New
Jersey, Docket No. TE00100802, dated November 5, 2001. And, NEON was authorized to
provide facilities-based competitive interexchange and local exchange services pursuant to
authority granted by Order of the Board on June 5, 2003. See Order, l/M/0 the Petition of
NEON Connect, Inc. for Authority to Provide Local Exchange and lnterexchange
Telecommunications Services in the State of New Jersey, Docket No. TE03030230.
Ughtower currently has twelve (12) employees located in New Jersey.
DISCUSSION
The petition states that the proposed pro forma intra-company changes are being undertaken to
eliminate unnecessary and cumbersome intermediate companies and duplicative operating
entities in the Ughtower corporate structure, which will also alleviate confusion among
customers arising from multiple Lightower operating entities serving the same service areas.
The pro forma intra-company changes involving Petitioners are part of this streamlining effort.
As a result of these pro forma changes, LTF-U and Sidera will be the only two Lightower
operaf1ng entities holding Certificates in New Jersey.
Specifically, Petitioners seek approval of the following intra-company changes (Pro Forma
Transactions): (1) the consolidation of LMC into Sidera; 1 (2) the consolidation of NEON into
1
This is expected to result from the merger of LMC with and into Lexent, Inc., with LMC as the surviving
entity, immediately followed by the merger of Lexent, Inc. with and into Sidera, with Sidera surviving.
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BPU DOCKET NO. TM14040343
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Sidera; 2 (3) the consolidation of NJ-DataNet into Sidera; (4) LTF-U becoming a direct
4
subsidiary of Light Tower Holdings LLC; and (5) the removal of Yankee Metro Partners, LLC,
an intermediate holding company, from the chain of ownership for Sidera. 5
As noted above, following the proposed transactions, NJ-DataNet, NEON and LMC
(uConsolidating Entities") will no longer provide any telecommunications services in New Jersey
once they merge into Sidera. The petition states that Sidera will submit tariff filings to
incorporate or adopt the services and rates of the consolidating entities to the extent that such
services and rates are different from those currently in the tariffs of Sidera and customers
currently purchase such services.
Following these pro forma intra-company changes, LTF-U will change its name to "Lightower
Fiber Networks I LLC" and Sidera will change its name to "Lightower Fiber Networks II LLC."
The petition states that these companies will submit the required filings to effectuate their name
changes once they are complete.
By letter dated May 14, 2014, Petitioners filed an Amendment to the Petition to clarify an aspect
of the relief sought in this matter. The letter states that in the petition at p.S, footnote 9,
Petitioners requested a waiver of the Board's slamming rules. Petitioners withdrew that request
for waiver by the letter and instead substitute a request for a waiver of the Board's mass
migration rules, see N.J.A.C. 12:10-12.1 et seq. Petitioners state that the affected customers
are commercial entities receiving services under individually-negotiated contracts, and are
therefore not part of a "mass market" as the term is used in the Administrative Code. They
further state that adherence to the mass market rules could cause significant customer
confusion.
In evaluating this petition, the Board must be satisfied that positive benefits will flow to
customers and the State of New Jersey and, at a minimum, that there are no adverse impacts
on any of the criteria delineated in N.J.S.A. 48:2-51.1; N.J.A.C. 14:1-5.14(c). Also, under
N.J.S.A. 48:3-7, the Board is required to determine whether the public utility or a wholly owned
subsidiary thereof may be unable to fulfill its pension obligations to any of its employees.
Petitioners state that by consolidating these entities, Lightower will simplify its corporate
structure and reduce its reporting and accounting burdens and will reduce confusion among
customers, many of whom receive services and separate bills from several of these entities for
essentially identical types of services.
Petitioners state that the proposed Pro Forma
Transactions will not result in any changes to se!Vices received by Petitioners' customers.
2
This is expected to resu!t from the merger of NEON with and into Sidera, with Sidera surviving.
This is expected to result from the merger of NJ-DataNet with and into DataNet Communications Group,
Inc. ("DataNet"), immediately followed by the merger of DataNet with and into Sidera, with Sidera
surviving.
4
This is expected to result from (a) the merger described in item (1) and {b) the mergers of Light Tower
LLC and LT LLC with and into Light Tower Holdings LLC, with Light Tower Holdings surviving.
5
This is expected to result from the merger of Yankee Metro Partners, LLC with and into LTS Buyer LLC,
with LTS Buyer LLC as the surviving entity.
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BPU DOCKET NO. TM14040343
The Division of Rate Counsel has reviewed this matter and, by letter dated May 21, 2014,
states that it does not object to this Petition.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION
After a thorough review of the petition and all related documents, the Board concludes that
there will be no negative impact on rates or service quality since all of Petitioners' customers in
New Jersey will continue to receive the same services at the same rates, through the same
assets, provided by the same employees, and under the same terms and conditions. Also, the
Board is satisfied that positive benefits will flow to customers based on the record presented by
Petitioners. In addition, the Board is persuaded that there will not be a material negative impact
on employees.
The Board concludes that the provisions of N.J.AC. 14:10-12.1 et seq. (mass migration rules)
do not apply to this internal reorganization. Moreover, the proposed transactions will allow the
Petitioners to streamline and rationalize their operations in a manner which will provide
organizational and intra-corporate operational benefits. Further, the Board also concludes that
the request for a waiver of the public notice requirements of N.J.AC. 14:1-5.14(b){12) is
warranted in this occasion as the proposed transactions are internal and all customers will be
notified of the mergers. With respect to the proposed name changes, petitioners shall submit
all required filings to the Board to effectuate their name changes including Certificates to
Conduct Business in New Jersey under the new names.
The Board also FINDS that, in accordance with N.J.SA 48:2-59 and 48:2-60 and N.J.S.A.
52:27E-52, following the closing, Sidera is responsible for the filing of NJ-DataNet's, NEON's
and LMC's final annual report with the Board and for the payment of any outstanding
assessment liabilities to the Board and to the Division of Rate Counsel. Following the closing
and once all customers have been transferred, NJ-DataNet, NEON and LMC shall surrender
their authority to the Board. Sidera shall also submit tariff filings to incorporate or adopt the
services and rates of the consolidating entities to the extent that such services and rates are
different from those currently in the tariffs of Sidera.
Accordingly, after careful review of this matter, the Soard FINDS that the Pro Forma
Transactions will not have a negative impact on the rates of current customers, or on
employees. The Board also FINDS that the Pro Forma Transactions will have no negative
impact on the provision of safe, adequate and proper service, and will positively benefit
competition.
Therefore, after investigation, having considered the record and exhibits
submitted in this proceeding, the Board also FINDS that the Pro Forma Transactions are in
accordance with the law and in the public interest.
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BPU DOCKET NO. TM14040343
This Order shall be effective June 30, 2014.
BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
BY•
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DfANNE SbLOMON
PRESIDENT
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JOSE H L FIORDALISO
,COMMISSIONER
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SECRETARY
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BPU DOCKET NO. TM14040343
IN THE MATTER OF THE VERIFIED JOINT PETITION OF LIGHT TOWER FIBER LONG
ISLAND LLC, SIDERA NETWORKS, LLC, LEXENT METRO CONNECT, LLC , NEON
CONNECT, INC., AND NEW JERSEY DATANET, LLC FOR APPROVAL OF CERTAIN PRO
FORMA INTRA-COMPANY CHANGES
DOCKET NO. TM14040343
SERVICE LIST
William K Mosca, Jr., Esq.
Bevan, Mosca, Giuditta & Zarillo, P.C.
222 Mt. Airy Rd.
Suite 200
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
[email protected]
John Deluca, Acting Director
Division of Telecommunications
Board of Public Utilities
44 South Clinton Street, 9th Floor
Post Office Box 350
Trenton, NJ 08625-0350
[email protected]
Jean L. Kiddoo, Esq.
Brett P. Ferenchak
Bingham McCutchen LLP
2020 K Street, N.W .
Washington, DC 20006-1806
jean.kiddoo@bingham .com
[email protected]
Rocco Della Serra
Division of Telecommunications
Board of Public Utilities
44 South Clinton Street, 9th Floor
Post Office Box 350
Trenton , NJ 08625-0350
[email protected]
David L. Mayer
Light Tower Holdings LLC
80 Central Street
Boxborough, MA 01719
[email protected]
Stefanie A. Brand, Esq., Diretor
Division of Rate Counsel
140 Front Street, 4th Floor
Post Office Box 003
Trenton, NJ 08625-0003
sbrand@rpa .state.nj us
Alex Moreau, DAG
Department of Law & Public Safety
Division of Law
124 Halsey Street
Post Office Box 45029
Newark, NJ 07101-45029
[email protected] state.nj.us
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BPU DOCKET NO. TM14040343